Gauge for cut-off saw tables and the like



Jan. 29, 1957 E. A. sNow 2,779,360

GAUGE FOR CUT-OFF SAW TABLES AND THE LIKE Filed oct. s, 1955 v' l A. .A,Z ZZ /23 55, 313 4111 Z4 5 Z5 13@ i237 39 INVENTOR. EUGENE f4. .5A/0W 4Tra/@MEV 4 GAUGE FOR CUT-OFF SAW TABLES A AND 'IHE LIKE Eugene A. Snow,Lynwood, Calif. i Application october 3, 1955, serial No. 537,916

4 claims. (cl. 14s-114) This invention relates to a gauge constructionfor cutol saw tables and the like.

Anobject of the present invention is to provide a quickly set-tablegauge that is gravitationally self-locking.

Cut-ott saw tables, of course, operate in an atmosphere of wood shavingsand dust and the same are sometimes located in the open withoutprotection from the weather, particularly, rain. Therefore, gaugestructures for cutoftsaw tables and the like frequently clog underaccumulations of both dry and wet sawdust and also rapidly deteriorateunder rust and corrosion resulting from poorly drained moisture. i

United States Patent 'Op Recognizing the foregoing faults, it is anotherobject of the invention to provide a cut-olf gauge that is selfcleaningof sawdust accumulations, is protected from rain, and readily drains offmoisture that may reach the wear surfaces.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a gaugestructure that, in the main, can be constructed of stock parts whichrequire but little machining to thereby provide for low cost ofproduction with attending long wear.

The invention also has for its objects to provide such means `that arepositive in operation, convenient in use, easily installed in a workingposition and easily disconnected therefrom, economical of manufacture,relatively simple, and of general superiority and serviceability.

The invention also comprises novel details of construction and novelcombinations and arrangements of parts, which will more fully appear inthe course of the following description. However, the drawing merelyshows and the following description merely describes one embodiment ofthe present invention, which is given by way of illustration or exampleonly.

In the drawing, like reference characters designate similarl parts inthe several views.

leig. l is a broken plan view of a cut-olf saw table provided with anadjustable gauge according to the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a front elevational view thereof.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged cross-sectional view as taken on line 3-3 of Fig.2.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary perspective view of a feature of theconstruction.

The saw table that is illustrated comprises a table top 5 that has arearwork-locating guide rail 6 and a front apron 7. A cutter 8 is shownin association with the above-described table for cutting through orinto a workpiece 9 positioned against guide rail 6. Transverse movementof this cutter performs the cutting operation. The present gauge meansis provided for positioning the workpiece 9 accurately with relation tothe cutter 8.

The gauge structure that is illustrated comprises, generally, anelongated front rail 10 axed to the table apron 7, longitudinallymovable means 11 sldinglyV supported by rail 10, a gauge arm 12 carriedby the means 11 and in transverse position relative to table 5, means 13to gravitationally lock the rail 10 and the means 11 2,779,360 PatentedJan. 29, 1957V ICC 2 against movement of the latter, and scale means 14for locating the means 11 and, therefore, the gauge arm 12 in properrelation to cutter 8.

The rail 10 is shown as comprising a wooden bar 15 aflixed to apron 7 bybolts 16 and spaced from said apron by spacers 17. The resulting space18 allows for drainage of moisture between the front of table 5 and rail16 and also for passage of saw dust from above. The rearward portion ofthe means 11 is maintained clear of table `5 and its apron 7 by reasonof space 18, as best seen in Fig. 3.

Said rail 10 also includes a steel angle rail 19 that is aflixed to thetop of bar 15, as by bolts 20, the heads 21 thereof serving as stopslimiting the longitudinal movement .of the means 11. Said rail 19 isarranged with its vertical flange 22 at the rear (see Fig. 3). Sincerail 19 may be eighteen or more feet inlength, the same may be made oftwo end abutted angle rails, if the great length is inconvenient forshipping. In such case, the butting ends may be fastened to bar 15 byunder flush countersunk head screws or the like so as to leave the upperface of horizontal rail flange 23 clear of obstruction.

The longitudinally movable means 11. is shown as comprising a steelangle rail 24 that has a horizontal ange 25 to which is affixed endblocks 26 and 27 in spaced relation to the vertical flange 28 of saidrail 24. The space 29, thus formed, is substantially wider than ange 22of rail 19, as can be seenfrom Fig. 3. Also, said blocks 26 and 27 areof such height that, when resting on ange 23, the upper edge of flange22 is clear of and substantially spaced from flange 25.

From this structure, it will beevident that rail 24 is freely slidablealong rail 19, the under faces of blocks 26 and 27 sliding along theupper face of rail flange 23, with the rail flange 22 extending freelyinto space 29.

Said means 11 mounts the means 13 for creating a friction between theouter face of fixed rail flange 22 and the inner face of movable railflange 28, said friction being effective along the entire length ofcontact between anges 22 and 28, is of such magnitude as to lock therails together against movement of the rail 28.

The means 13 is shown as a pair of circular and eccentric members 31mounted on the ends of blocks 26 and 27 on pivot bolts 32 and soweighted as to turn on said pivots in a direction to engage the innerface of rail flange 22. Thus, the weight provided will cause firmfrictional engagement between flanges 22 and 28 although but two cams oreccentrics 31 are used to elect such friction.

'l he weight for actuating the cams is shown as an elongated handle baror tube 33 that is connected by forwardly extending stud arms 34 to saidcams. Immediate release of the means 11 for adjusting movement thereofis readily effected by lifting on handle bar 33 so as to relieve thementioned friction.

Screws or bolts 35 atix blocks 26 and 27 to rail 24 and clearance holesor slots 36 in the flange 25 of said rail permit such location of saidblocks and the cams carried thereby that both cams function with similareffect to create the mentioned gauge-lockingA friction.

The gauge arm 12 preferably comprises a metal sheet 37 having itsopposite edges 38 somewhat upturned, as shown, to impart rigidity Itosaid sheet and comprise the workpiece-stopping edges of the gauge. Thescrews 35 that enter block 27 aflixed said gauge plate to rail 24, aspacer block 39 being used to bring said gauge arm above and clear ofthe top 5 of the table.

The scale means 14 is shown as a graduated scale 40 alixed to the upperface of flange 25, and an index member 41 that is adjustably carried byrail 10 and, more specifically, is affixed to bar 15.

It will be noted that a manual lock for the gauge is not needed andpractice has demonstrated that the friction 'reate'd betwenanges 22 and28 is of such magnitude that, even when a work-piece, is pushed, withconsiderable force, against the gauge arm 12,the1e is no shift of thegauge from 'the set position. Yet, a Vsimple lift on handle b'ar'33`frees the gauge for movementl to another position.

While the foregoing has illustrated and described what is nowcontemplated to be the best mode of carrying out the invention, theconstruction is., of course, subject to modification without departingfrom the spirit and scope of the' invention. It is, therefore, notdesired to restrict the invention to the particular form of constructionillustrated andV described, butu to Coverall modifications that may fallwithin` the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed and desired to besecured by LettersPatent is:

1'. A gauge for a cut-off saw table and the like comprising aV vraildisposed along the front of the table and having a horizontal flange anda vertical flange at the rear of the horizontal Hang-e, a graduatedelongated gaugemounting member over the rail and provided with meansresting on the horizontal angeV of the rail to support the member inspaced relation above the rail, said member being provided Vwith'avertical flange alongside of and rearward of the vertical ange of therail, and weighted eccentric cam means carried by the elongated memberin spaced relation to the'vertical flange thereof and in engagementVwith the vertical flange'of the rail to frictionally engage saidvertical flanges.

2. A gauge according to claim 1: the means onk the elongatedl memberthatI rest onthe'horiz'ontal 'flange of the rail comprisinglongitudinally spaced blocks, and the weighted cam means being carriedby said blocks in the space therebetween.

3. A gauge construction comprising a fixed metal angle-sectioned rail,an anglesectioned member shorter than therail and disposedover the rail,the vertical flanges of the rail and member being in sidebyside relationwith the flange of the member rearward of the flange of the rail,longitudinally/spaced support blocks carried by the member and engaged,withv the horizontal` flange of the rail to support thelongitudinalmember, a gaugesa'rm carried by said memberandlrextending transverselytherefrom, and gravity'weighted means carried by the mem- 'oer to drawsaid vertical flanges into frictional engagement throughout the lengthof the member to, thereby, lock said member and the gauge ,arm tothe-rail.

4. A gauge construction according to, clairnnL 3: trans,- verselyadjustable means connecting the` support blocks to the member.

References Cited in the file ofvl this patent UNITED STATES lPATENTSWoodruff Dec. 14, 1954 HN A-

